boondocking, need help asap....
Just put a new controller in for my 55w solar panel. It charges batts (2 12v) to full charge, but once the sun starts to go down the batts start to discharge and the controller shows red by morning. W...
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Well hopefully some smarter than I will chime in. Not a lot of info. 50 watt is rather on the small side for two 12v batteries, hard to imagine that batteries ever get 'fully' charged.
However it sounds by description precieved 'something' -other than stuff on- is draining batts once charge source gone (sun). The panles themselves can 'use' power-but most have internal diodes to prevent this.
The controllers do just that-control how much and when charge is sent to batteries-more like regulates charge source so doesnt overcharge the battery.
When charging removed the batteries WILL drop and stabalize back to 12.4-12.7 or so depending on charge. If your controller has LVD (low voltage dissconnect) it could be as low as 11 somthing volts, which is a discharged battery before it shuts off.. Also depending how its wired -that may/probably doesnt dissconnect camper from batteries-only the 'load' ouput of controller.
If you have NOTHING on, (but your camped?)refer board-parasitic (radios tv safety sensors) and your batteries drain there is a problem.
But it honestly sounds like batteries start not fully charge-normal in use being taken down untill indicator shows red-I dont know what the set points are on controller-.
COuld be a lot of things, like battery not holding charge-age?
However it sounds by description precieved 'something' -other than stuff on- is draining batts once charge source gone (sun). The panles themselves can 'use' power-but most have internal diodes to prevent this.
The controllers do just that-control how much and when charge is sent to batteries-more like regulates charge source so doesnt overcharge the battery.
When charging removed the batteries WILL drop and stabalize back to 12.4-12.7 or so depending on charge. If your controller has LVD (low voltage dissconnect) it could be as low as 11 somthing volts, which is a discharged battery before it shuts off.. Also depending how its wired -that may/probably doesnt dissconnect camper from batteries-only the 'load' ouput of controller.
If you have NOTHING on, (but your camped?)refer board-parasitic (radios tv safety sensors) and your batteries drain there is a problem.
But it honestly sounds like batteries start not fully charge-normal in use being taken down untill indicator shows red-I dont know what the set points are on controller-.
COuld be a lot of things, like battery not holding charge-age?
